Cable connecter



H. L. S TRONGSON CABLE CONNECTERI Oct. 4 1927; 1,644,310

Original Filed Dec. 4, 1922 INVENTOR flerma n -L, ,5Zr'on 'son Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE;

HERMAN L. STRONGSGN, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y, ASSIG'NO'R TO THE THOMAS :& BEETS '00., OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

- i CABLE I comm CTER.

GriginaI application filed December 4, 1922, Serial No. 604,677. Divided and this application filed July 23, 1926. Serial No. 124,333.

. This invention relates to cable connecters for connecting cable to electric fixture boxes and the likeiand this application is a division of my former application'Serial Number 604,677 liled December 4, 1922, now Patent 1,594,220.

An object of the invent-ion is to produce an improved cable and box connecting means, and particularly a new type of cable connecter embodying a single pressure producingor, operating means which simultaneously performs several functions, namely, that of gripping the cable directly against a box hole edge, and that of simultaneously anchoring the connecter in the box hole; and the foregoing features are combined with a connecter member so formed astonotonly expose a part of the box hole edge directly to the cable but includeas well an overreaching anchorage means which reaches through a boxhole and over the edge thereof to rigidly anchor the connector in the box hole.

it is a particular object of this invention to improve a sleeve connect-er as to its'end formation by which the combined exposed box hole edge and single pressure producing or operating means may be brought into use in an eflective and simple way thereby attaining new mode of operation in anchoring the connector and a 'cable to a box.

Another'object, or in factto accomplish the foregoing, is to produce a connecter, say of sleeve form, which has a mutilated or cut away end so designed and shaped thatone portion of the conn-e-cter is relatively short and another portion is somewhat longer. the shorter portion being preferably a full cylindrical or substantially a full cylindrical sleeve. while the longer portion is a projecting member not necessarily or sleeve form. The projecting member performs several functions, namely. that of coacting with the box to impart relative lateral or a sidewise motion to the connector; in the box hole to grip a cable,'and that of reaching beyond nd over the box hole edge in an abutting manner to position" the box wall between or against anchorage means. I

The accompanying drawings illustrate an example the invention and changes in structure may be resorted to without departing "from the underlying novel principles involved. For example, the operating or pressure producing means, which I describe hereln, may be altered in various respects as conveniences and requirements of the trade may demand.

In the drawings Figures 1 and 2 are set forth as an example of the invention and are taken from Figure 15 of the parent patent application above referred to, Figure 1 showing a side elevation of the connecter and Figure 2 showing an outer end View thereof. I

Figure 3 shows the inside or inner end elevation of the connecter.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate an amembly view of the connect-er, cable and box; the first being a longitudinal section and the latter being an outside end elevation.

Figure 6 illustrates an improvement over the former views and is an assembly of the improved connecter together with a cable and box, the improvement being an additional abutment means or ear to aid in an- Electric fixture boxes B have cable and,

connecter receiving holes H to receive cable and within the box hole H to attain thecable gripping function. To this end a tool receiving means is employed to bring into play the single pressure producing means, i. e. by which the connecter sleeve 50 may be moved or given a turn relatively to and within the box hole to grip the cable C in the box hole H and simultaneously anchor itself therein as well. The present example of tool receiving means comprises a nut 51 formed integral on the connecter, although it'may assume other forms so. long as there results a Wedging or camming action by which, ultimately, the connecter is made to shift itself laterally or radially in a box hole to grip a cable.

The connecter may have a portion, as the sleeve 50, made or formed suitable in size to fit in or through the box hole II and is so formed as to expose a portion of the box hole edge directly to the cable C received thereinto. Furthermore, the connecter 50 is so shaped and formed on its end in a novel way as to expose a portion of. the box hole edge and to cover up or conceal a portion thereof. The concealed portion of the box hole edge establishes anchorage with the connecter to hold it inthe box and also the concealed box hole edge portion may afford means a 'ainst which the connecter moves or travels to execute ultimate lateral motion of the connecter in the box hole to grip a cable against the exposed box hole edge.

' In accordance with the foregoing general plans of the invention, the sleeve has on one end thereof a two-stage or stepped end formation, i. e. a mutilated end, defined by plane 52 extending at an angle to the axis of the sleeve 50 and intersecting a plane 53 which may extend substantially parallel to the sleeve axis. In this way the two intersecting sleeve end defining planes 52 and 53 cutaway and form the sleeve connecter in such a way that it cooperates in a new and useful manner with the box hole H to permit the use of a single pressure producing means to perform several functions in combination with an exposed box hole edge.

The sleeve end 52 is designed to be placed parallel to the box wall B on one side there of while a reach portion 55, defined by the plane 53, is intended to pass, project, or reach through the box hole II and carry an integral abutment 5 L designed to reach over the box hole edge and rest on the other side of the box wall B. In this way the box wall is disposed between the sleeve end 52 and overreaching abutment means 5a. The sleeve end 52 and hole edge ov-erreaching portion 5% are suitably spaced to allow the box wall to rest therebetween and to permit full relative motion to occur between the connecter and box will be described.

In other words, the sleeve end 5 2 and the overreaching means 54 are intended to anchor the connector in the box hole against displacement. They are nevertheless spaced apart a sullicient distance to permit full motion of the connecter in the box hole, and the structure illustrated is by way of example .to demonstrate the principle involved. It is noted that the overreaching portion 54L points away from the sleeve and over or alongside the box hole edge. I

The sleeve defining planes 52 and 53 simply outlines a sleeve 50 with what I may term a reaching anchorage abutment means 54.55 included as a part of the sleeve because this portion 54 55 reachesthrough a box hole and over the edge thereof on the other side or hooks on the other side against the box wall surface in an abutting manner serving to anchor the connecter in a box hole because the box wall is between the sleeve end 52 and box hole edge overreaching portion 54.

The box wall abutment flange 54' may stand parallel to the plane 52 defining the end of sleeve portion 50 and the surface 56 of the abutment 54 may be spaced from the sleeve end surface or plane 52 a distance about equal to the thickness of the box wall B, so that the box Wall rests between the surface 52 and surfaces 56 which disposes the axis of the sleeve at right-angles to the box wall B.

motion is primarily lateral or radial in that.

the sleeve 50 must move in a direction at right angles to the cable axis so to force the cable against the exposed box hole edge and simultaneously seat with great pressure the concealed portion of the box hole edge against and between the box hole over-reaching portion 5455.

In the example of the invention shown,

and as illustrative of a single pressure producing means for the cable and box connecting means. there is shown the box B provided with the cam-shaped hole consisting of the usual circular edge I-I joining a tangent cam edge 20 which terminates in a step edge 21. The stop edge 21 of the boxhole H acts to prevent rotation of the sleeve 50 in the wrong direction and compels the mechanic making the installation to rotate the sleeve counter-clockwise as viewed from Figure 5.

The sleeve 50 is inserted in the box hole H and loosely retained in position by plac ing the cam means 602O in proper relation, i. e. the follower 60 is placed near the stop 21 and in this way the connecter sleeve is loose in the box hole whereupon the cable C is passed through the box hole and into the connecter sleeve 50 with the wireends passedthrough the sleeve so that the wires may be manipulated and connections made in the box B. 'Having thus assembled the connecter and cable in the box hole, the ac tion of the single pressure producing or operating means is now brought about which simultaneously anchors the connecterin the box hole and grips-the cable thereinas well because the connecter is subjected to suitable sidewise movement in the box hole. The sidewise or lateral motion is essential and is brought about inany suitable wayregardless or whetherthe inclined edge or cam 21 is a part of the box or connecter, and regardless 01' whether the sleeve connecter is rotated in the box holeor otherwise shifter or moved to attain lateral gripping motion.

By application of a wrench to the'nut 51 to rotate the connecter, the cam-follower-SO follows along the tangent cam edge or incline 20 and gradually forces'the sleeve 50 laterally in the box hole thereby displacing the sleeve sidewise and away from the center of the box hole which means that the sleeve shifts outwardly fromthe box hole axis, the result of which is to forcibly bringthe exposed box hole edge H eccentrically within the sleeve end 52. Therefore, the exposed portion of the box hole "edge H creeps into the sleeve and impinges against the cable C thereby positively and with considerable pressure bearing the cable against the inner sleeve wall and gripping it against the inner eccentric portion of the box hole edge H.

It is apparent therefore that the connecter is subjected to a compound motion in the box hole, rotary and lateral, and that it is the rotary motion (itself ofless importance) which initially imparts lateral or radial motion to the connector and slides it sidewise in the box hole to periorm the cable gripping function, The lateral motion is therefore essential and may be brought about in any suitable way.

Furthermore, the gripping action which occurs pursuant to the rotation o'f-the sleeve, also generates considerable pressure between the cam-follower and the box hole edge H, theresult of which is to steady the connector against wobbling motion in the box wall. The cam-followerGO establishes a firm seated contact between the connecter-an-d box hole edge d on one side of the cable C while the exposed box hole edgeon the other side embeds itself into the cable and prevents relative motion between the cable and the box and between the connector and the box.

One portion of the connector if desired may be made'too large tofit through the box hole. For example, the abutment5 l may be so large as to prevent it from passing through the box hole and thus, if the con-n ec ter is manufactured inthatway, its sleeve portion 50 is usually introduced through the box hole and thesurlt'acc 56 is brought to rest adjacent one side of the box wall whilethesleeve end surtace 52 is placed on the other side of the box. In this way, one portion of the connector may be introduced tln'ouh the box hole but does not pass all the :way through and acts as a stop against one side of the box. 1

for this purpose, this relationship may better be reversed for certain'wiring jobs. Furthermore, the large size abutment .54

spreads across and covers the box hole H to I form a well closed box.

Referring to the improvement shown in Figure 6, an abutment car is included integrally on the sleeve extension 55, and more particularly on the cam follower 6d The ear-65 is spaced from the abutment 5a a distance about equal-to the thickness of the box wall 13 so as to place the wall of a box. between the two portions. Thus the two abutments'65 and 54 act together to prevent longitudinal displacement of the connector from the box hole. It is to be appreciated that-the two abutments are spaced sufiiciently far apart as to not interfere with relative movement between the box and connecter.

the box wall against longitudinal displace mentl The connector is novel in respect to'the peculiar mutilated sleeve end formation by which the box hole edge is in part exposed in combination with overreaching-anchorage means to hold the oonnecter in the said ex posed box hole'edge without screwsqbeing placedrthr-oughthe box wall. One way of ac complishingthis is the -two-stage sleeve length, which characterizes this invention,

whereby'thesleeve :is made with at least two lengths, ashort oneand a long one, the lat ter including the overreaching abutment which rests, on thatside of the box Wall which 'is opposite the shorter one.

This type of cableconnecter does not requlrescrew connecting means by which the oonnecter is screw-fastened to the box wall,

and the single pressure producing or operating means is uniquely organized'as an im- =portant part of the cable box and connecting may be used for new house workif desired.

The rotatable-tool receiving means 51 is shown as .a nutbut the principle of the invention admits of use of other means. The nut 51 is engaged by a tool to effect rotation of the connecter'within the box hole the same as attained by screw means, i. e.

the nut 51 causes the sleeve moving or op and a single operating means which acts to move the connecter side wise in the box hole, and these several considerations are true without employing screw fastening of any character between the box and connecter. The cam 20 and follower 60 are tantamount to screw operating means which imparts lateral motion to the connecter in the box hole to grip a cable between the exposed box hole edge and connector and this tool receiving means 51 or its equivalent may preferably be placed inside the box.

What I claim is:

1. Cable and box connecting means comprising, a box having a cable and connecter receiving hole, a member having a mutilated end and suitable in size to fit into the box hole and having a portion of said end formed substantially parallel to one side of the box wall, the other portion of said end extended at an angle to said box wall and reaching through the box hole which leaves exposed a part of the box hole edge, including an anchorage portion which reaches beyond the box hole edge to the other side of the box wall, and operating means, included in the cable and box connecting means, to grip the cable between the box hole edge and member and to positively seat against the box hole edge that connector portion which reaches through said box hole.

2. Cable and box connecting means as defined in claim 1 wherein the operating means moves the member in two directions in the box hole, one of which directions islaterally orsidewise to grip the cable against the exposed box hole edge.

3. Cable and box connecting means comprising, box having a connector and cable receiving hole, a sleeve on one side of the box wall and including a mutilated end formed by planes intersecting at right angles which produces a short sleeve including a caching portion small enough to lit into and through the box hole, the said. mutilated. end concealing a part and exposing the remaind-er ot the box hole edge to the cable, means included on the reaching portion which over reaches the hole edge on the other side of the box Wall, and operating means, including sleeve moving means on the reaching portion, to move the reaching portion against the box hole edge and force the sleeve laterally in the box hole to grip the cable against the exposed box hole edge.

4. Cable and box connecting means as deiined in claim 8 wherein the operating means imparts movement to the reaching portion, and the engagement of the sleeve moving means on thereaching portion against the box hole edge imparts lateral relative motionto the sleeve to grip the cable against the box hole edge.

5. Cable and box connecting means comprising, a box having a cable and connector receiving hole, a sleeve including a portion suitable in size to it into the box hole, onev end of the sleeve formed in part substan tially parallel to one side of the box wall,

the other portion of the same end of the sleeve formed substantially at right angles to said box wall and projecting through the box hole which leaves exposed a part of the box hole edge, including an anchorage portion which reaches over the box hole edge on the other side of the box wall, and operating means, included in the cable and box connecting means, to grip the cable between the exposed box hole edge and said projecting portion of the member and to positively seat the projecting portion against the box hole edge. V

6. Cable and box connecting means as defined in claim 5 wherein the operating means moves the sleeve and portion projecting therefrom laterally relative in the'box hole to grip the cable between said projecting portion and the box hole edge. 7

7. Cable and box connecting means comprising, a box having a cable and connecter receiving hole, a sleeve connector having a mutilated end and including a portion suitable in size to fit into the box hole, a portion of said end of the sleeve formed substantially parallel to one side of the box wall, the other portion of said mutilated end formed substantially at right angles to said box wall and reaching through the box hole which leaves exposed a part of the box hole edge, including an anchorage portion which reaches over the box hole edge and on the other side of the box wall, and operating means, included in the cable and box connecting means, to subject the connecter to a compound motion in the box hole and resulting in relative lateral motion thereof to grip the cable between the box hole edge and connector. r

8. Cable and box connecting means com prising, a box having a cable and connecter receiving hole, a member having a mutilated end and suitable in size to fitv into the box hole and having a portion o'l said end formed parallel to and. abutting one side of the box wall, the other portion of said end termed end including a portion suitable in size to lit into the box hole and having a portion or" said end formed parallel to and abutting one side of the box wall, the other portion of said end formed substantially at right angles to the box Wall and projecting through the box hole and including a portion abutting the other side of the box wall to anchor the member against displacement, and operating means, included in the cable and box connecting means, to impart double motion to the member, one of which is lateral with respect to the box hole axis to grip the cable between the box hole edge and member.

10. Cable and box connecting means com prising, a box having a cable and connecter receiving hole, a sleeve placed inside the box and having a mutilated end including a reduced size portion which reaches through the box and which includes anchorage means on the end thereof reaching over the box hole edge, said reduced portion formed to expose the box hole edge to the cable, and operating means, included in the cable and box connecting means, to grip the cable between the exposedbox hole edge and sleeve.

11. Cable and box connecting means comprising, a box having a cable and connecter receiving hole, a sleeve placed in the box and having a mutilated end which includes a reduced size portion which reaches through the box hole and which includes overreaching anchorage means on the outer end thereof on the outside of the box and which reaches around the box hole edge in a direction away from the sleeve, said mutilated end portion formed to expose the box hole edge to the cable, and operating means, included in the cable and box connecting means, to grip the cable between the exposed box hole edge and sleeve.

12. Cable and box connecting means as defined in claim 11 wherein the overreaching anchorage means on the outer end is made too large to pass through the box hole.

13. Cable and box connecting means comprising, a box provided with a cable and connecter receiving hole, a connecter mounted in the box hole and embodying a sleeve on one side of the box wall,'said sleeve having a mutilated end including a member projecting therefrom which exposes the boxv hole edge and which reaches through the box hole to the other side of the box to support as aforesaid the sleeve on one side of the box wall, anchorage means included on said projecting member reaching over the box hole edge to that side of the box Wall which is opposite thesleeve to rigidly the corn necter in the box hole after the parts are assembled, and operating means, included in said cable and box connecting means, to move the connector with respect toand in engagement with the box hole edge togrip thecable between said connecter and the exposed box hole edge. I a 14. Cable and box connecting means comprising, a box provided with a cable and connecter receiving hole, a connecter mounted in the box hole andembodying a sleeve on one side of the box wall, said connecter having a mutilated end including a member projecting from the sleeve, which exposes the box hole edge, and which reaches through the box hole to the other side of the box and against which said cable rests, a box hole edge bearing portion formed on said projecting member which slidably bears against said box hole edge, anchorage means included on said projecting member reaching over the box hole edge to that side of the box wall which is opposite the sleeve to rigidly fix the connecter in the box hole ating means, included in the cable and box connecting means, to move the connecter.

said connecter having a mutilated end including an anchorage member projecting through the box hole and the cable resting against the projecting anchorage member, a hole edge bearing portion formed on said member which slides against the box hole edge and which includes means reaching over the edge of the hole to the outside of the box, and means operated from inside of the box, included in the cable and box connecting means, to grip the cable between the exposed box hole edge and anchorage member.

16. Cable and box connecting means as defined in claim 15 wherein the means operated from inside the box, slides the hole edge bearing portion relatively along said edge, to move the sleeve and anchorage member laterally relative in the box hole, to grip the cable between the exposed hole edge and said anchorage member.

after the parts are assembled, and oper 7 17. A cable connecter comprising a sleeve having a mutilated cut away sleeve end delined by planes intersecting at right angles, thus producing a sleeve end surface at right angles to the sleeve axis, and a portion parallel thereto and projecting from the sleeve, means included on the projecting portion parallel to the sleeve axis to reach beyond a box hole edge to anchor the connecter in a box hole, and means also included on the projecting portion to movably engage a box hole edge by which to impart lateral motion to the connecter within a box hole.

18. A'connecter comprising a sleeve having a mutilated cut away end, including a portion projecting from the sleeve end which exposes one portion of a box hole edge and rests on the other portion, and including two spaced abutments on the projecting portion between which a box hole edge is adapted to be received, and box hole edge engaging means formed on the conn-ecter to bear against a cam shaped box hole to move the conn-ecter laterally in said box hole to grip a cable against said exposed box hole edge.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERMAN L. STRONGSON. 

